Bedspring fabric



1,630,196 w. H; MATTHEWS BEDSPRING FABRIC Filed June 4. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY )MJ/,Nomix May 24 1927' w. H. MATTHEWS A BEDSPRING FABRIC Filed June 4. 192s s sheets-sheet 2 ATToRNEY.

May 24, 1927.

. 1,630,196 vw. H. MATTHEWS I BEDSPRING FABRIC -Filed June 4, 1925 `5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 JNVENTbR.

2 e ATTORNEY- Patented May 24, 1927.

wAILLrAM H. iviAfrn'nWs, or E'WBURGH, NEW YORK.

BEDSPRING miento. p

Application filed .Tune 4,

This invention relates to bedspring fabric of metallic construction, and has for its prin'iary object the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a fabric of link con` .struction which will stretch and give and be depressed only at that' partA upon which a body is resting, without disturbing,distorting, or drawing down the fabric remote from the point uponl which the body is resting.

Another object of this invention is the pro'visioinrin a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a metallic fabric having anovel sliding or moying coupling linl: feature which coupling links extend transversely ofr the fabric between longitudinally extending coupling links and which act by their sliding action to increase the resiliency of the fabric, and further, to allow only that portion of the fabric beneath and immediately adjacent the body of one lying thereon, to be ijlepressed, the other portion of the fabric being horizontal and undisturbed.

A still further object of the invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a bed spring fabric composed of interconnected metallic links, havingy a novel aiul'improved means 'for connecting the fabric to resilient spring members positoned be tween the fabric and the end rails of the spring. Y j

Another and still further object of the intention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of an improved method of connecting a bed spring fabric to resilient members in turn connected to the end rails of'a bed spring, by,which means certaink alternate resilient members will take up thel first of the strain whenabody is placed upon the fabric, the other alternate resilient'niein bers being neserved to assist the' first men4m tioned alternate membersin the event that an unusual weight be placed upon the fabric. n A final object of this invention is the' pro-V vision, in a inanner'as hereinafter set forth, of an improved bed spring fabric structure of interconnected wire link design,4 which will be light, strong, durable, of wide open mesh and easily kept clean, easily assembled and inexpensive to manufacture.

`They invention will be best understood from" VYa consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with -vthe accompanying drawings forming lpart of this specification, with the understandingthat 1925. serial N'o. 34,937.

theinyention .is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the' dr-aw# ings, bnt may be changed and modified so long' as such changes and modifications vn1-ark" no material departure froni the salient' fea.-

tures of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims: f V

In the' drawings; y y lFigure l is a plan view of the Afabric ein# bodying this Vinvention shown as connected to spring members, whichin turn are con-Y nected to the end rails of afbed spring franie. l'I4`i'gure 2 isV a perspective view of portion of tliefabric construction and the jresilient endconnections associated therewith. yFigure 3 is a plan viewof a portion of the, fabric showingA a, slight modification of the link structure; i

Figi`ire 4 isa longitudinal sectional View taken upon the "line 4 4 of Figure 3 showing in'furtliei detail the method'of assembly of the modified structure.

Figure 5 shows afs'liglitstructural change,"

the trins'verse links lier'ebeing offset instead of thelong'itudinal extending links as in tlief fibi'ic structure showing a ydifferent. type of longitudinally. extending' element and se.-

curing means'ztherefor and betweenlthesaine and! the transxferse eleinents. y y

Figure 'i' is .a vdetailed perspective view of the transversechain links showing the man-v.

ner of connecting themsame.

Fi-gi'ire S isa detailed perspective view'of anend connecting inugeinb'er.` n y `Figure 9 is a detailed "perspective'y View of certain'of the other connecting members.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings, a pair of bed spring end rails is indicated at l.

Arranged along the inner edge of each ofV the end rails l, and connected ythroughthe` apertures 2 therein ls-a row. of alternately long and `short expansible springs andl 4 respectively. The long'springs 3 are vall of equal length and the short springs 4 are also of equal ure l` y y y Connected to the inner hooked end'of each long jspring and extending inwardly there- 'from is vasmall loop' 5 of strong light spring length as is clearly shown in Figconnection.

wire material, and the free ends of each are hooked as indicated at (i, to form a means for It will be noted in the gure that the small wire loops 5 at one end of the fabric have the looped ends connected to the hooks of the springs 3, while at the other end of the fabric the tree hooked ends 6 are connected to the hooked ends of the spring 3. It is further to be noted that the hooked ends 6 of the wire links 5 upon one end ot the fabric are in vertical position side by side and each is turned downwardly, whereas those loops 5 at the other end ot the fabric have their hooked ends 6 in superposed relation one with the other and are horizontally disposed with the ends curved in opposite direction.

Extending from each ot' the loops 5 at one end of the fabric and connecting with each opposing loop 5, is a link chain, formed ot resilient spring wire, each chain in its entirety being indicated by the numeral 7.

Each link ot each border chain or outer cllain is formed ot an elongated substantially U-shaped member 8, the terminal end of each leg of each link S being hooked as indicated at 9 to engage the adjoining link S or one of the small loops 5 at the end ot the fabric. The connected ends and the hooked ends 9 ot each of the links 8 are so connected together and to the loops 5 at each end of the chain, that the legs of each link are in the same plane one with the other and with the legs of the loops 5.

The inner leg ot each link 8 is looped at its central portion to provide an eye l0, the use of which will be made apparent as the description proceeds.

Each individual link 11 ot those chains 7 located between the outer or border chains composed of the links 8, is of elongated U` shaped conformation similar to the links 8, and of the same length, and the free terminal ends ot' the legs ol each of the links ll are hooked as indicated at l2 to engage in the loop of the adjacent link or in the loop 5 at one end ot the fabric as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

One leg ol" each ol" the links ll, has` the central portion thereof oli'set by bending down as at lil to t'orm the horizontal lower portion lel ill a lower plane tllall the lest of the leg and the other leg of the link. This ottlset portion 14 ill one ol the legs ot' each of the links ll is ill direct alinement with the eyes l0 o'l the links 8 ot the border chain.

Extendingl transversely ot' the 'fabric is a series ot link chains indicated as a whole by the numeral l5, each link 1G oi each chain comprisingl a substantially elollgated U- shaped member or resilient wire, having the terminal end of each leg hooked shaped or formed ot an open loop, as indicated at- 1T ot a size to loosely engage the adjacent link in the chain or one ot: the border links 8. That link 16 at the other elld ot' thc chain l5 has its head elld or looped end connected to one olC the eyes ltl ot the link olf the border chain i'. Each link lt extends between the legs oli' a link l1, beneath the straight leo' and resting upon the oll'set portion lslol the other leg. in this manner it vl'ill be seen that the cross chainsl l5 cil-- tend under halll ot tlle leg.-= ol the links ll ot the longitudinally extending chains T and above and rest upon the oli'set portion tol-ined ill each ot the other legs alld terminate at each end ill an eye ll) liorlned ill the inner leg ot the link o' ol' the bordel' l* chain 7.

Connected to the inner end ol each olthe short .springs le a :substantially V-:shapcd connecting member lo, the point oll joinder lt) between the legs ot the member beingl connected to the clld ot' a spring 4 and the terminal inner end ol each leg olz each melllber is hooked as at il) to engage, at one end ot the `l'abric, with the looped end ot one ot the terminal links ol each ol the chains T and at the other end with the looped end ot a looped member 5.

Vlll Figure il there is shown a sli'fht nlollilication ol the struct ure above de, ibed, ill that the intellnediate chains here indicated as a whole by the numeral T are conll'losed olc a series ol alternate wire linksy and tial links. In this construction the intermediate chain assen'll'llxv Tf* collll'lrises terminal link menll'lers 2l which are tornle-fl ol substanizlly U-shaped resilient wires. Asimilar to the links ll with the exception that they are much sholter and are without the oli set portion ill one ol" the lega. These links Q1 hare their looped cudsiin cngagcnlcllt with the ends ot the legs oll tiro l/shaped connecting` members lo and with :l .-llort link which is ill turn connected to one ol" the springs l. The tree end ot' each leg ol" each lilik lllcnlbcl- Jl is hooked as .at 22 and engaged through apertures ill one end ot' a pair ot supcrposcd plate ulcllllalla` 2l and respectively, the plate l beingr the upper plate and 25 indicating the lower plate. The other end oll cach olA these plates has a similar aperture "lil therethrough ill which connected one looped elld titiol :l straight single lillk 2T. 'l`hese illlcrlncdiatc chains are made. up oll alterllatc straight links 2T and sllperpoeed connecting links or plates Q-l alld as shown ill Figures il and 4 ol the drawings.

The cross chains 'l5 ale the same as those set Atorth above and as shown ill connection with Figures l alld 2, the legs ot' cach link ot these cross chains l5 pass between the plates and 25. l

The outer or border chain structure 'T is the same as those shown alld described ln connection with Figures l alld Q and the llo cross chains connect inl similar eyes' 10 formed' in the inner leg oit each ot the links 8 ot' this chain;`

In Figure there is shown' a. slight modi- 'c'ation' ot'- the structure disclosed in the other' tigures.-V lli' this torni the arrangement oit the links reversed, for here the links ot theI transverse chains', one of which chains is indicated at. l5", are formed in a niannerlsiinilar to the links l'l, and the links iir the longitudinal chains 7 are like those in the chains 7. Eachlink i6 comprises a wire body bent upon itselt to set up the substantially parallel legsv showin One leg! ot' each ot these links is bent downwardly .adjacent each v.en'dias at 13 to provide; the ottset straight portiorl 14.

Each' of the links 1l comprises a wire body bent upon itself as shown to provide 'the substantially parallel legs shown, both" of' which legs pass between the leg of a link 16, resting upon the offset portion 14T as shown in Figure 5;

The lmeans for interconnecting the linksl in thisforrnf areyas shown, the saine as in theV lirst mentioned forni.

A still further modi'ii'cation' is shown in Figurel ot' the drawings, as the longitudina'llylext'en'din'g elements here are formed of relatively sin-all steell cables which are ,termed of a series of twisted together strands much in the saine manner heavy steel `cables' are termed;`

Each end of each' of theselongitudinally extending elements 30 is passed up thiougl'r an apertureV 3l in` an elongated steel plate 32, across the top and longitudinally oilllhe plate and down through a second aperture at the other end thereof, and there is also passed through Vthese apertures 33 the inner hooked end ot a long spring 3 the other Vend of each ot these springs being secured to the end cross bar l oi the bedlfranie as in the other cases. The threading of the ends olf the4 elements 30 through the apertures 3l and 33 of the link plate 32 issuch that when the element v30 is' drawn taut it binds. itself curely in the apertures ot the plateanid is therefore prevented from becoming disconnected;therefrom. u u

Each ot' the longitudinally extending elements 30 carries thereon a series of spaced triangular plates 34 and each o'f these plates is provided with three apertures, 35, 36, and 37 respectively as shown.r The plates are `mounted upon the longitudinally extending elements 30 by having the elements threaded up through one of the apertures, aperture 35, across the face of the plate and down through the opposite aperture7 36, as shown. The plates therefore haveone side parallel with the element upon which is mounted one angled portion of each thereof extending inwardly from the elements 30 carrying the plate. f l

Thosev elements 30? which are located within' or betwe'eir thel border elements, ea'ch have thereon a' pair of square plate members 3S;l each being located adjacent one end of its supporting element.A lilac-h ot these plates as shown has four apertures lorine'd there-V through one adjacent each corner oia the plate, as indicated by the nuinera'ls 39, 40 and 4l; As is shown the supporting element 30 ot each plate is passed up through one aperture, aperture 39, across' theltop of theV plate and down through aperture 40 which Lis located inf the opposite corner of the plate.` The drawing tight oit the supporting element 30 securely binds' the plate in any desired position thereon. -These v )lates-1 38l are in alignment transversel f ot the bed' fabric and an end 'l of the triangul lar plates 34 upon the border element 30 is also positioned in alignment with the plates 38 as is shown in Figure 6'.y

Connecting the transversely extending row of plates"34 and 38 withtheshort spring ellernents 4 which `are connected to the end' cross nieniberoit thev trame l', are substantially V- shaped link members i8 similar to those' shown in the other figures; The apex oi ee'ch of these V-shaped link members is engaged by the springs 4 and the terminal ends ot' the legs thereof are secured to certain oitl` the plates 34 or 3S, as is shown7 inthe apertures .in the adjacent sides ol'y ,the plate.`

n Connecting those i triangular' plates which are carried upon the border elements 30 and `which are locatedl between the end triangular plate 34', are transversely ext-ending. link chains indicatedy generally by the numeral and formed ot links 43 and 44 respectively. The links 4B constitute. the end links ol the chain 4:2 and `the links 44 the intermedi-alte links ot' thechain rPhe end links are con,- nccted i'n the innernroS-:t aperturefl? ,ofthe triangular' plates34- as shown, and the legs .v of tlrsc terminal links are superposed` except that the inner ends where; the uird'er leg bent upwardly to bring the inner end in parallel relati'onin the saine plane witlr the 'rp'- per leges clearly shown'i'n? Figure 7p rnd these terininalendsot 4the legs are hooked as at 45. These hooks engage `over the looped ends ot the inner links 44, the legs of which inner links are, as shown, in the same plane with the exception of the central por tion of oneleg Whichis bent downwardly as indicated at 46. As shown in Figure 6 the longitudinally extending elen'ients 30 extend between the legs of the link members 43 and 44 and thus there is set upa looped connec tion between the transverse chains and the longtudinally extending elements.

`When the Jfabric herein described is'put into use, the action oit the parts is, when a Weight is placed thereon, as follows Assuming that the Weight is evenly distributed over the first three of the intermediate chains 7 adjacent the border cllain,the tirst action, is ot' course, the depression of the links ll. This depression of the links 11 draws` upon the loops 5 stretching tirst the large springs rl`he cross chains l5 will be carried dowll with the links ll, and the lillks 'lt oli the cross chains, which connect those links directly helle-ath the weigllt npon the 'fabric with those at the side wllere there is no weight, will assume an inclined position swinging upon the portion 14 ot the depression in the leg ot the link ll through which it extends. 'lhis instead ot drawing down on the chains T, which carry no weight, leaves tllenl per'lectly horizontal and tight, the inner leg ot each link ot the border cllaill being the only portion o't' the fabric not actually in contact with the weigllt, which is deformed.

It the weight is not unusual upon the fabric, the large. springs il will support most ot it as the V-shaped connecting members 1S will first llave the terminal ends oi their legs drawn together betere any direct pull is r had upon the short springs et bllt, when additional weight is put upon the 'fabric the short springs 4c are brought into play and assist in supporting the load.

It will be thus seen that there is here provided a fabric structure of improved design whicll, when the body is placed thereon, will not be inclined Ytrom each outer edge to the point where the body is laying, but will only be depressed at that point which supports the body and the remainder ot the fabric will be perfectly horizontal and unchanged.

Having thus described my invention what l claim is l. A bed spring fabric, comprising a longitudinally extending parallel series ot link chains, each link heilig ot' elongated substantially U-shaped contour, means for setting up a resilient connection between the end ot each chain and an adjacent spring Vtrame end bar, and a transversely extending parallel series of link chains, each of elongated substantially U-shaped contour and having the end link ot' each chain lined to a link ot' an outer longitudinally extending chain and the other links ot the body of the chain slidably extended between the legs ot the links` oli the longitudinal elements sub stantially midway their length.

Q. A bed spring Vfabric, comprising a longitudinally extending parallel series of link chains, each link being ot elongated substantially U-shaped contour, the inner leg ol' each link ot' each border chain being torllled to provide an eye and one leg ot each link ot cach oll the other chains having a depressed otl'set portion therein, said eyes and otl'set portions heilig in alinenlcnt transversely otI the 'labritz nleans lor setting up a resilient connection between each end ol each cllaill and a spring trame end bar, and a transversely extending parallel series ot link chains, the end link ot each being lixed ill one otl said eyes and the interlllediate links being loosely extended between the legs ol` the links in the longitudinally extending chains alld seating in said depressed pol tions.

2E. A bed spring structure conlprising, ill colllhination, a pair ot end rails eacll having along the inner edge thereolf a l nlgitlnlinall \v extending row ot apertlu'es, alternate long and short spiral springs each having one end engaged in one oi said apertures ot each rail, a short link inenlber extending illwa-rdly lrom the inner end ot cach ot said long` springs, a chain structure having the links thereof ot elongated substantially U- shaped iornlation connecting those short links at one end oi the structure with those in opposed position at the other end ot the structure, transverse cllains composed ot elongated substantially U-shaped links, hav` ing each end link connected to a link oll an outer one oi said tirst nlentioned chains and having the other links extended through the links ot the other ol said tirst mentioned chains, and V-shaped connecting members each connected at its apex to one ot said short springs, and having the terminal portion ol each leg in connection with one end link ot one of said lirst nlentiolled chains.

ln testimony' whereo'l", l allix illy signature llereto. 

